All three states went to Obama in 2008, but saw major Republican
gains during the 2010 elections.

Senior White House officials said today that Obama will not be
making any major economic policy speeches on the trip, senior
White House officials said today. Instead, he will host
townhall-style events in each state to hear voters concerns about
the economy.

Although the trip begins just one day after Ames Straw Poll
festivities die down, White House officials insist that it is not
related to the 2012 presidential campaign.

But on a conference call with reporters today, White House
Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer noted that the president has
a "special connection with Iowa," referring to the 2008
Democratic caucus win that kickstarted Obama's presidential
campaign.

He added that there is "no magic to the fact that the straw poll
is a few days before."